Footwear with energy accumulation

Abstract

Footwear with energy accumulation is presented. In a first version, the footwear comprises a sole, back, associated therewith, and fixation means coupled with the sole and back for securing a user's foot on the sole. The sole and back are disposed at an initial angle exceeding 90° therebetween, and form a leaf spring, while being arms of the spring. Alternatively, the leaf spring is made separate from the sole and back, having two arms respectively coupled with them. In a second version, the footwear comprises a sole including a frontal portion and a rear portion, the frontal portion is formed as a console spring downwardly bent out and cantileveredly secured to the rear portion, and fixation means for securing the user's foot on the sole, coupled therewith and depressing the front part of the foot against the spring. The portions are disposed at an initial angle therebetween less than 180°.

1. Footwear with accumulation of spring energy, caused by elastic deformation, comprising:
 a footwear system, comprising: 
 an elastic substantially planar sole portion; 
 an elastic back portion; 
 an intermediate heel portion between said sole and back portions, wherein said sole portion, heel portion and back portion are integrally formed together; and 
 fixation means for securing the position of a user's foot on said sole portion, wherein said fixation means are coupled with said sole portion and with said back portion; 
 wherein said sole and back portions, when not contacted by the user, are independently biased at an initial angle exceeding 90° therebetween so as to form a leaf spring of a predetermined bias selectively operable to provide said elastic deformation, wherein said sole and back portions are arms of said leaf spring; 
 wherein said sole and back portions, when contacted by the user, are selectively operable to be biased by the user of said footwear system to a subsequent angle equal to 90° or less so as to accumulate an amount of spring energy therein. 
 
     
     
       2. Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said sole and back portions are comprised of elastic polymers. 
     
     
       3. Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said spring includes at least one member with a C-shaped cross-section for partially embracing the user's leg. 
     
     
       4. Footwear with accumulation of spring energy, caused by elastic deformation, comprising:
 a footwear system, comprising: 
 an elastic substantially planar sole portion; 
 an elastic back portion; 
 an intermediate heel portion between said sole and back portions, wherein said sole portion, heel portion and back portion are integrally formed together; 
 fixation means for securing the position of a user's foot on said sole portion, wherein said fixation means are coupled with said sole and back portions; and 
 a leaf spring of a predetermined bias selectively operable to provide said elastic deformation, said leaf spring including two arms respectively coupled with said sole and back portions; 
 wherein said sole and back portions are biased at an initial angle exceeding 90° therebetween; 
 wherein said sole and back portions are selectively operable to be biased by a wearer of said footwear system to a subsequent angle equal to 90° or less so as to accumulate an amount of spring energy therein. 
 
     
     
       5. Footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein said leaf spring is comprised of elastic polymers. 
     
     
       6. Footwear with accumulation of spring energy, caused by elastic deformation, comprising:
 a sole member including a frontal portion and a rear portion, wherein at least a portion of said frontal portion of said sole member comprises a spring of a predetermined bias selectively operable to provide said elastic deformation, wherein said frontal portion extends downwardly towards a bottom surface of said rear portion of said sole member; and 
 fixation means for securing the position of a user's foot on said sole member, wherein said fixation means are coupled with said sole member and depress the front part of the user's foot against said spring; 
 wherein said frontal and rear portions of said sole member are biased at an initial angle therebetween. 
 
     
     
       7. Footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein said initial angle is less than 180°. 
     
     
       8. Footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein a bend zone is defined in the region of joining said frontal portion of said sole member with said rear portion of said sole member; and
 said bend zone is located substantially at either the beginning of the metatarsus of the user's foot, at a phalanx of toes of the user's foot, or near the heel of the user's foot. 
 
     
     
       9. Footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein said spring is comprised of an elastic polymer. 
     
     
       10. Footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein said spring is formed as a hook-shaped member.